HOLLYWOOF Holiday Movie Guide

These recent and classic dog movies are perfect for watching with your pooch over the holidays … or any time.

“The Adventures of Tintin”
“Hugo”
Our Favorite Fido Flicks

“The Adventures of Tintin”

If you didn’t see the Steven Spielberg/Peter Jackson 3D movie, “The Adventures of Tintin,” last year and you’re not quite sure what Tintin is all about, we’ve got the dish on this infamous investigative journalist and his pawed pal, Snowy.

According to the Tintin website, the series was created in 1929 by a Belgian artist who called himself Hergé. Clever and ever-curious, Tintin is a reporter-turned-detective whose pursuit of villains, criminals, treasure and the occasional artifact takes him all over the world, along with a colorful cast of friends. Tintin’s most faithful friend is his Fox Terrier named Snowy. The pup traverses continents with his adventurous master and saves his life on numerous occasions. Throughout all their adventures, reporter and dog are inseparable.

“Hugo”

Director Martin Scorsese made his 3D debut last year with the film, “Hugo.” It follows a young boy named Hugo Cabret who is living in a train station, maintaining the clocks behind the scenes.

Hugo has a broken automaton robot given to him by his father, and the movie follows his adventures as he tries to fix it. According to NewsReview.com, it’s evident that Scorsese took his time with the 3D medium, making a meaningful film that’s not all flash and no substance.

The villain archetype in the film is the nosy train station inspector, played by Sacha Baron Cohen. He relies on his Doberman to point him in the direction of orphans so he can turn them over to the authorities. Not to say the Doberman is necessarily “evil.” Remember, there are no bad dogs, just villains who employ their dogs to do evil deeds.

Don’t let the focus of the young boy fool you, though. Unlike “Tintin,” this is more of a 3D movie for grown-ups.

Our Favorite Fido Flicks

“Marley & Me” – This tearjerker, based on a true story, follows two newspaper journalists, John and Jenny Grogan, who adopt a yellow Labrador Retriever named Marley to help them decide if they are ready for kids. John begins writing a column and uses his undisciplined dog as the topic for his first piece. When having kids becomes a problem for the couple, things aren’t looking up for Marley, either. So what happens? You’ll have to watch this cute movie to find out the rest. (Spoiler alert: You will need lots of tissues.)
“101 Dalmatians” – Both the animated version and the live-action movie are about a litter of Dalmatian puppies who are abducted by the minions of evil Cruella De Vil. Their pet parents then rush to find the pups before De Vil can use them for a new fur coat. While we prefer the animated version, watch the live-action film for the sole purpose of seeing TV’s Dr. House, Hugh Laurie, as one of the bad guys.
“Best in Show” – This hilarious “mockumentary” follows the owners of five show dogs as they travel to the Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show. The owners include a trophy wife who has a thing for the handler (Jane Lynch from “Glee”) of a best-in-show winning Poodle; a yuppie couple whose constant fighting freaks out their Weimaraner; and two fabulously gay men from Tribeca. With all these pooch-capades happening, who will win best in show?

PHOTOS: Bob Cruz, Dyanna

Amelia LeRutte

Amelia Lerutte is a public relations and social media expert, and a pack leader to a couple derpy Boston Terriers, a lovable Leonburger and a Keeshound. When not writing or promoting the i Love Dogs brand, Amelia is an avid NHL fan, ice hockey player and video gamer.